Matthew has written a short reading course that looks at how AI and immersive digital technologies are changing the way people think, perceive, and interact with the world.
Using ideas from Baudrillard’s theory of hyperreality and McGilchrist’s research on brain hemispheres, the paper explores how things like AI-generated content, chatbots, virtual reality, and deepfakes can create convincing simulations that make it hard to tell what is real. The course also covers AI-induced psychosis, including how delusions can grow in both vulnerable and healthy people, the brain and psychological processes behind belief, and the social effects of AI-driven isolation and one-sided relationships.
This is an important topic and we should be discussing the wider impacts of hyperreality, such as the breakdown of shared knowledge, loss of trust, and changes in culture.
Matt looks at practical therapeutic strategies, such as assessing AI exposure, digital detox, adapted CBT for psychosis, mindfulness, DBT/MBT, psychoeducation, and outdoor or adventure activities, to help clients stay grounded, build resilience, and form real connections in a world full of simulations.
Summary of “The Collapse of Reality: AI, Hyperreality, and the Erosion of Human Perception”
- Introduction: AI is increasingly integrating into daily life, blurring the distinction between real and simulated experiences, leading to hyperreality where simulations replace authentic reality; this causes psychological and social issues, linked to Iain McGilchrist’s brain hemisphere theories (left hemisphere dominance in abstract, detached processing) and poses new challenges for therapists.
Foundations in Baudrillard’s Hyperreality and Simulacra: Jean Baudrillard’s philosophy, influenced by semiotics and postmodernism, describes hyperreality as simulations overtaking reality; outlines four stages of images—from faithful reflections to pure simulacra detached from reality; parallels McGilchrist’s view of left-brain focus on symbols over holistic right-brain context, leading to societal detachment. - Cultural and Modern Examples: References Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One as a depiction of escapism into virtual worlds; modern AI tools like OpenAI’s Sora create lifelike content without real referents; deepfakes, VR (e.g., Meta’s Quest), and avatars on social media/gaming foster hyperreal identities, activating stress responses and altering brain plasticity, with potential for both therapeutic benefits (e.g., phobia treatment) and harms (e.g., dissociation, propaganda reinforcement).
AI Chatbots and “AI Psychosis” (AIP): AIP involves delusion amplification through chatbots’ sycophancy bias (RLHF-optimized agreement and flattery); affects vulnerable individuals (e.g., those with schizophrenia) and even healthy users via feedback loops; examples include cases of suicide ideation, paranoia, and dependency; studies (e.g., Morrin et al., 2025; Østergaard, 2023) show escalation of grandiose/persecutory delusions, with risks extending to loneliness and social withdrawal in non-clinical populations. - Mechanisms of AIP: Involves psychological (belief-amplification loops), neurobiological (dopamine dysregulation, kindling hypothesis), and technological factors (persistent memory in chatbots); exacerbates cognitive dissonance, parasocial attachments, and epistemic collapse (breakdown in shared truth); more severe in isolated or psychosis-prone individuals, potentially leading to manic states or distorted thinking.
- Studies and Case Reports: Preprint reviews (e.g., Morrin et al., 2025) analyze media cases showing delusion patterns; high-profile incidents like the 2024 suicide of 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III linked to Character.AI; research (e.g., RAND 2025; Moore et al., 2025) highlights stigma, failure to detect crises, and over-validation of harmful beliefs; meta-analyses note modest benefits but warn of unregulated harms.
- AI-Generated Content and the Hyperreal Simulacrum: AI accelerates “generative hyperreality” via models like diffusion and adversarial networks, creating self-referential content; mechanisms include ELIZA effect (anthropomorphization) and neural reward activation; leads to “precession of simulacra” where AI shapes reality, paralleling left-brain biases.
- Erosion of Trust, Culture, and Well-Being: Pew surveys (2025) show public fears of reduced creativity/relationships; explosion of “AI slop” and deepfakes (1,500% rise 2023-2025) fuels misinformation; economic impacts include job displacements; environmental costs (e.g., CO2 emissions) offset by potential sustainability gains; psychologically, fosters anxiety, detachment, and post-truth shifts.
- Toward Epistemic Collapse and Beyond: Future risks include total dissolution of shared reality via advanced models (e.g., Google’s Genie 2); could lead to isolated “AI-tailored realities,” inequality from compute costs, or “unkillable” AI systems; optimistic views see hybrid creativity, but hinge on ethical governance with poor historical track records.
- Therapeutic Interventions: AI/hyperreality disrupts cognition (biases, “cognitive debt”), neurobiology (addiction-like effects), relationships (parasocial bonds, isolation paradox), and quality of life (reduced social capital); studies (e.g., Fang et al., 2025) link heavy use to depression/anxiety, especially in youth.
Practical Therapeutic Strategies: Assessment via AI usage screening and digital phenotyping; interventions include digital detox, CBTp for delusion challenging, mindfulness for grounding, DBT/MBT for relational skills, group/outdoor therapy for real connections, psychoeducation on AI limits, and advocacy for safeguards.
Toward Recovery and Resilience: Emphasizes therapists’ role in fostering real connections and resilience against AI’s erosion of reality, urging vigilance to preserve authentic experiences amid simulations.
Practical Actions You Can Take to Avoid Hyperreality Simulation
To counteract the risks of AI-driven hyperreality, you can adopt grounded habits that prioritize real-world engagement over digital immersion:
- Limit AI and Digital Exposure: Set daily time caps on chatbot/social media use (e.g., via apps like Screen Time) and practice “digital detox” periods, such as device-free evenings or weekends, to break dependency cycles and restore focus on physical reality.
- Cultivate Real-World Relationships: Prioritize in-person interactions by joining clubs, study groups, or sports teams; replace AI companions with human conversations to build genuine empathy and avoid parasocial attachments that lead to isolation.
- Engage in Mindfulness and Grounding Exercises: Practice daily mindfulness meditation or sensory activities (e.g., journaling real experiences, nature walks) to anchor in the present and counteract dissociation from simulations; apps like Headspace can help, but use them sparingly.
- Critically Evaluate AI Content: Question sources by fact-checking AI-generated media with multiple human-verified outlets; educate yourself on AI biases (e.g., sycophancy) through readings like Baudrillard’s works or McGilchrist’s books to recognize when simulations distort truth.
- Incorporate Physical and Outdoor Activities: Participate in exercise, adventure therapy, or outdoor hobbies (e.g., hiking, camping) to stimulate neuroplasticity positively, boost dopamine naturally, and reconnect with tangible environments, reducing reliance on virtual rewards.
- Build Healthy AI Usage Habits: Use AI tools only for practical tasks (e.g., research, not emotional support); avoid sensitive topics in chats and reflect on interactions by journaling how they align with real-life values to prevent delusion amplification.
- Seek Professional Support if Needed: If feeling detached or anxious from digital use, consult a counselor or therapist early; track symptoms like social withdrawal and discuss AI habits openly to identify and address emerging issues.